Armenian Night at the Pops celebrates U.S. 250th anniversary
A unique night marks the 250th anniversary of the United States
The 74th annual "Armenian Night at the Pops" took place May 23 at Boston Symphony Hall, dedicated to the United States' 250th anniversary. Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart programmed a rare work by Armenian-American composer Alan Hovhaness titled "Ode to Freedom," originally composed for the nation's bicentennial in 1976.
Violinist Sofia Vardanyan, invited from Yerevan, performed the composition alongside the Boston Pops Orchestra. The work blends Eastern and Western musical traditions with Armenian sacred music and Caucasian tonalities. Vardanyan, who studies at a Vienna conservatory through the Erasmus program, also performed "Hayr Mer" ("Our Father") with the orchestra.
The evening, organized by the Friends of Armenian Culture Society, featured remarks from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey and included performances by Portland-based group Pink Martini, which performed the Armenian song "Ov Sirun, Sirun."
